The Westfalenpark Dortmund was opened for the first of the three Bundesgartenschau (a biennial federal horticulture) there (1959,[1] 1969,[2] 1991[3]).

On the grounds of the old Kaiser-Wilhelm-Hain, the bushmill park, a waste disposal site and overgrown allotments, a park was created, the centre of which is the Florianturm, at 220 metres the highest German building at the time.

Especially popular are the concerts on the lake stage as well as the a cappella festival and flea markets.

The awning, designed in 1969 by architect Günter Behnisch, is considered an experimental building of a self-supporting roof construction.

The Westfalenpark was extended by 10 hectares for the Federal Horticultural Show Euroflor 1969.